NAO asked to investigate NHS ‘underspend’

Following a record surplus of £500m at theNHS, theLiberal Democrats have called on the
National Audit Office to investigate the reason for this underspend.

The record surplus was disclosed byThe
Guardian in an analysis of strategic health authority board papers

Norman Lamb, LibDem health spokesperson, issued the plea to the NAO afterGuardian analysis revealed that NHS trusts responsible for hospitals,
mental health, primary care and ambulance services ended the financial year in
March with £456.8m in spare cash that could have been used to provide extra
healthcare.

Patricia Hewitt, the health secretary, had threatened to resign if the NHS
made a deficit in 2006/7 after overspending by £547m in 2005/6.

Lamb said: ‘Everything was driven by her desire at all costs … to avoid
another deficit.’